February Newsletter

February 2007

NEWS FROM PROJECT TALITHA CUMI

The Daniels Family Mission News

Pressing On...

I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me...Phil. 3:12b

Hola De Honduras!

February has been such a blessing for all of us here at Talitha Cumi.

We have been blessed to celebrate Valentine's Day with the girls. Right after we first arrived here, some of the girls brought it to my attention that they had not received a promise ring for their 15th birthday, which was a custom that had been followed in the past. I bought the rings for them before Christmas but the timing just didn't feel right, so I waited. The Lord set up a beautiful time for me to give them these rings. On Valentine's Day, we had a picnic in the country where we were able to bless the girls with gift bags full of candy and a special treat for each girl. After this, I then did a devotion on God's love...how he loved us so much that while we were still sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8).

After the devotion I asked Cruz and Zulmie to come forward and join me. I then shared with them, 1 Timothy 4: 8 and 12, "For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds PROMISE for the present life and also for the life to come...Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, and PURITY, show yourself an example of those who believe". As the girls accepted the scripture and the rings, a lump rose in my throat as I imagined them marrying a godly man who will love them as Christ loved the church.

Last week, we were visited by Ricky Griner and a group from China Grove Baptist Church. They blessed us by remodeling the porch on the house we are living in and making it into a storage room. They also took the girls shopping.

Later that night the girls put on a fashion show for them so everyone could see the new clothes and shoes that they had been blessed with. God came through with His provision once again. I thank Him that his mercy, grace, and absolutely perfect love is sufficient for us. I am so thankful that God has led us to a place where He is able to demonstrate His perfect LOVE for us.

In His Service,

Keith, Joanna, and Tanner Daniels

News from Pam……

Dear All,

I have returned from a trip to Tegucigalpa, where I dropped Anastacia off to translate for a team that Mr. and Mrs. Jack Berquists are hosting.  She will be there a week. I had wanted to leave on Saturday in time to arrive before dark.  It was getting late and Anastacia still had not packed.  I was about to cancel and wait until the next day, but Joanna encouraged me to go on because the college girls have longed for me to go to their church and meet their pastor and his wife and their youth pastor and his wife. Plus, they wanted to introduce me to all the friends they have established during these three, going on four, years in college.  So, I went ahead and left and got there at dark, and I was hoping I was hearing from God.  I don't like to drive in the dark in Tegucigalpa, and I prayed for protection while Anastacia slept.

The next morning, the sermon was really good about Abraham and Lot, and they had such anointed singers. Before and after church, I was introduced to so many people, and everybody was telling me how great the girls are, what a blessing they are, and what great translators they are.  Of course, I was in total agreement and it was fun to see how God has used these girls to bless so many others. 

Because of the group, we were kind of bottlenecking the crowd flow.  A young girl with a baby on her hip was standing beside me, while Brenda was introducing me as "Mama Pamela” to yet another person.   The young girl looked at me and kind of flinched and said "Mama Pamela?", and began acting very startled. I saw her mouth when she spoke my name, and I knew it was Elsa Marina Galinda Gallo. I grabbed her, held her, and kissed her on the head.  It was incredible. She was our first girl of PTC, and was with us for four years. We had started a church in Corelitos, and the temporary pastor asked if we would take Elsa. Elsa left PTC about 8 years ago when her grandfather wanted her to go back with him. Three years ago, we heard that she had been murdered, but she told me it was her grandfather that had been murdered after she moved back. 

We literally fell on each others necks, sobbing and crying.  I just couldn't believe it was Elsa.  It was such a miracle to see her again.  I was reminded of the prodigal son; and in this case, the prodigal daughter.  I cannot express the joy of seeing her again. It didn't matter where she had been, she was here once again.  It truly overwhelmed me. 

During the past few years, she had a failed relationship, but it left her with three of the prettiest little girls. The one on her hip was about ten months old.  Her oldest, Katerine Michelle, looked just like her.  I asked her why she had not come back to visit.  She said she was too ashamed to come back after the way she left.

It finally dawned on Brenda who she was and I introduced Elsa to Anastacia, too. They all just marveled about how they had all grown up. I saw Angela with some friends at the door, and I walked over to her and asked her if she knew who this young woman was.  She looked at her for just a second, and then had a similar reaction.  We all cried again.  It was wonderfully chaotic.  The church has a good size congregation, and Elsa had been there every other Sunday.  She also attends the church in Corelitos.  Angela and Brenda are with the college youth, and they go to the early service. We just happened to be at the late service. We exchanged cell phone numbers and now we are connected again.

It was wild, but great to know that God can do whatever He pleases, including orchestrating a late trip to Tegucigalpa to see a young woman that I thought I had lost, but is found. What we all have done here in this ministry is eternal, without end.  Now there is a second generation of girls with Elsa's children.  Please pray for her girls. 

I can't tell you how God has blessed me on this trip down.  God has been so good to me.  Please continue to pray for all of us. Love to you all. 

Pam Demott

Gabby having a ball